Duplex vacuum cleaner nozzle



P 0, 1968 w. P. RITZAU 3,380,103

DUPLEX VACUUM CLEANER NOZZLE Filed July 6, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. WILLIAM P. .RITZAU JZM 415%;

ATTORNEY April 30, 1968 w. P RITZAU DUPLEX VACUUM CLEANER NOZZLE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 6. 1966 J v \om Rm fi 3. M N 0 WR T m 4 M M m m. w i :N, m

April 30, 1968 w. P. rrz u 3,380,103

DUPLEX VACUUM CLEANER NOZZLE Filed July 6, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 6

ATTORN EY April 30, 1968 w. P. RITZAU DUPLEX VACUUM CLEANER NOZZLE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 6, 1966 INVENTOR WILLIAM R RITZAU mw/afi/fl ATTOR NEY United States Patent 3,380,103 DUPLEX VACUUM CLEANER NOZZLE William P. Ritzau, Darien, Conm, assignor to Electrolux Corporation, Old Greenwich, Conn., a corporation of Delaware Filed July 6, 1966, Ser. No. 563,192 8 Claims. (Cl. 15417) This invention pertains, in general, to suction cleaning nozzles for tank or canister type vacuum cleaners and, more particularly, to a suction cleaning nozzle which can be used for cleaning smooth floor surfaces (such as, linoleum covered floor, mosaic tile floors, hardwood floors, etc.) as well as for cleaning fabric covered floors (such as, rug-covered or carpeted floors).

In cleaning smooth floors it is desirable to employ a suction cleaning nozzle which has a rigidly mounted relatively stiff brush incorporated thereon because the combined effects of brushing and suction do a better cleaning job. For example, the brushing action loosens dirt, dust, lint and litter which adheres to the floor and this loosened matter is subsequently drawn into the nozzle by suction.

The brushing action also dislodges dirt, dust, lint and litter which is located in narrow crevices between the tiles of a mosaic tile floor and this dislodged matter is, likewise, drawn into the nozzle by suction.

However, it is not desirable to employ the aforesaid rigidly mounted brush to supplement the suction cleaning action when one is cleaning a rug covered or carpeted floor. A rigidly mounted brush in contact with the rug or carpet creates too much friction and, as a result, much greater effort is required to move the nozzle across the surface of the rug. When cleaning rug covered or car peted floors it is better to use a suction cleaning nozzle having no brush at all or a spring loaded brush which can move upwardly and downwardly in a vertical direction.

Heretofore, two separate suction cleaning nozzles were provided for cleaning smooth surfaced floors and carpeted floors, respectively. The first nozzle was provided with a rigidly mounted brush for cleaning smooth floor surfaces and the second nozzle, having no brush, was provided for cleaning rug covered or carpeted floors. When the vacuum cleaner operator finished cleaning a smooth surface and was about to start to clean a rug covered surface the first nozzle had to be manually removed from the end of a rigid hollow wand and the second suction cleaning nozzle had to be manually coupled to the end of the wand. Often the operator would have to bend over or stoop to detach one nozzle from the end of the wand and couple the other nozzle thereto. In some cases, to avoid stooping or bending over, the wand would be lifted to waist height where the one nozzle would be detached and the other nozzle coupled to the wand. The provision of two separate suction cleaning nozzles was disadvantageous in many respects. It was too expensive. Too much effort was required to change the nozzles during the vacuum cleaning operation. Also, more space was required for storing the nozzles when the vacuum cleaner was not in use.

Also, duplex nozzles have been provided with a rug nozzle on one side and floor brush nozzle on the opposite side of a nozzle body, the latter being pivotally mounted on the normally horizontal part of a hollow elbow so that either nozzle might be presented to the surface being cleaned. The elbow and body also cooperated to form a "ice rotary valve for connecting whichever nozzle was in the lower active position to the interior of the elbow. However, this arrangement had the disadvantage that lowering the wand connected to the other end of the elbow in order to manipulate the nozzle under low furniture, also shifted the valve so as to connect the upper inactive nozzle to the elbow, thus greatly reducing the flow through the active nozzle.

One object of the present invention is to provide a multi-purpose suction cleaning nozzle which can be used for cleaning smooth floors as well as fabric covered floors.

Another object of the present'invention is to provide a multi-purpose suction cleaning nozzle which can be appropriately positioned for cleaning either smooth floors or fabric covered floors, as necessary, without the necessity for the vacuum cleaner operator to touch the suction cleaning nozzle with her hand, or to have to stoop over or bend, or to have to lift the wand up to waist height.

In accordance with one illustrative embodiment of the invention there is provided a nozzle body, or housing, having a plenum chamber defined therewithin. On the exterior of the nozzle body there are provided two floor surface treating faces. These faces are located on opposite sides of the nozzle body and each face has a suction inlet port formed therein through which dust, dirt, lint and litter may enter the plenum chamber in the body. One face has a brush mounted thereon adjacent the suction inlet port therein and the other face does not have a brush mounted thereon. The face having the brush is intended for cleaning smooth floor surfaces and the face without the brush is intended for cleaning rug-covered or carpeted surfaces. In another part of the exterior of the nozzle body there is formed a suction exhaust port and pivotally coupled to the nozzle body at the suction exhaust port is a hollow elbow. This elbow is, in turn coupled to the lower end of a rigid hollow wand of a tanktype or canister-type vacuum cleaner.

A weight may be attached to the nozzle body near one end thereof and this weight is instrumental in helping to pivot the nozzle body about the elbow so that a selected one of the aforesaid faces can be placed in contact with or adjacent to the floor surface while the other face is out of contact with the floor surface. For example, if a rug covered floor surface is being cleaned the face without the brush is in contact with the rug. When the rug covered floor surface has been cleaned and a smooth hard wood floor surface is about to be cleaned, the vacuum cleaner operator need only lift the wand upwardly a short distance to allow the weighted nozzle body to pivot about the elbow so that the weighted end of the nozzle body moves to a location nearest to the floor surface. Then, the vacuum cleaner operator can lower the wand so that the weighted end of the nozzle body contacts the floor and serves as a fulcrum or pivot point about which the nozzle body can be further rotated another 90", thus completing a rotation of the nozzle body and thereby placing that face of the nozzle body having the brush adjacent the hardwood floor surface allowing the brush to contact the floor.

Located in the plenum chamber is a valve which is operated, in the way hereinafter described, to close the suction inlet port on that face of the nozzle body which is not adjacent the floor surface and to open the suction inlet port in that face which is adjacent the floor surface. For example, when the face without the brush is in cono 1.3 tact with a rug-covered floor surface the valve closes the suction inlet port in the face having the brush (i.e., the face not in contact with the floor surface). Moreover, the valve opens the suction inlet port in the face contacting the rug (the face without the brush) so that dust, dirt, lint and litter can enter the opened suction inlet port and pass through the plenum chamber, suction exhaust port, hollow wand and, ultimately, into a dust bag located in the tank unit or canister of the vacuum cleaner.

The valve is rotatably mounted in the plenum chamber and is coupled through a train of gears to a gear, or cam, which is secured to the hollow elbow. When the hollow wand is lifted upwardly and then lowered into contact with the floor surface to rotate the nozzle body 180, in the way hereinbefore described, the train of gears rotates relative to the gear, or cam, on the elbow and, as a result, the valve which is coupled to the gear train is rotated 90 thereby opening the suction inlet port in that face of the nozzle body which is adjacent the floor surface while, simultaneously, closing the suction inlet port in that face which is not adjacent the floor surface. However, the arrangement is such that rotation of the elbow relative to the nozzle body of less than 90 from an upright position of the wand does not rotate the valve at all, and hence the wand may be lowered to near the floor without moving the valve.

Other objects as well as the various features and advantages of the invention will appear by referring to the following detailed description of various embodiments of the invention as well as to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a first embodiment of a multipurpose suction cleaning nozzle according to the invention, the nozzle body or housing being cut away to more clearly show the elements which are located within the nozzle body;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 33 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 44 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 55 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a reduced scale rear view taken on the line 66 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to that shown in FIG. 6, except that the nozzle body or housing has been rotated at little more than 90;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to that shown in FIG. 6, except that the nozzle body or housing has been turned through 180;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 9-9 in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to that shown in FIG. 1 but showing a second embodiment of the multi-purpose suction cleaning nozzle according to the invention;

FIG. 11 is another view similar to that shown in FIG. 1 but showing a third embodiment of the multi-purpose suction cleaning nozzle according to the invention; and

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 1212 in FIG. 11.

FIGS. 1-9 illustrate a first embodiment of the multipurpose suction cleaning nozzle of the invention. In these figures the reference number 10 generally designates a nozzle body or housing. Within the nozzle body 10 ther is defined a plenum chamber 12 (FIG. 2) which communicates with a suction exhaust port 14 (FIG. 4) that is defined in a rear wall portion of the nozzle body 10. Coupled to the nozzle body 10' at the suction exhaust port 14 thereof is a hollow elbow 16. The normally horizontal end of the elbow 16 is inserted within the suction exhaust port 14 and the body 10. Formed in the outer wall surface of the elbow 16 is an annular keyway 18 or groove. Similarly, there is formed in the wall surface of the body 10 in the region of the suction exhaust port 14 4 an arcuate slot within which there is located an arcuate key 20. The key 20 protrudes through the slot in the body 10 and projects into the arcuate keyway 18 in the elbow 16. The key 20 prevents the elbow 16 from being withdrawn from the suction exhaust port 14 of the nozzle body but permits the nozzle body to pivot relative to the elbow 16 about a common central axis which passes through the suction exhaust port 14 and that part of the elbow 16 which is concentrically within the suction exhaust port. As indicated by the dotted lines shown in FIG. 2 a long rigid hollow wand 22 is intended to be connected to the other inclined nd of the elbow 16. The wand 22 is frictionally secured within the elbow 16 by means of a locking ring 24. See US. Patent No. 2,925,289 for details of the construction and functioning of couplings which employ locking rings such as the locking ring 24. Fastened by means of countersunk screws to the exterior of the nozzle body 10 on opposite sides thereof are the plates 26 and 28. The plates 26 and 28 are provided with smooth surfaces which define floor surface treating faces on the nozzle body. As shown in FIG. 2, the plates 26 and 28 are provided with openings 32 and 34, respectively, which register with similar openings provided in the body 10 and they define suction inlet ports or openings in the nozzle body. In FIG. 2 the suction inlet port defined by the opening 32 receives dislodged dust,

dirt, lint and litter from the surface of a rug 36 and the dislodged matter is carried by suction induced airflow into the plenum chamber 12, the hollow elbow 16, the hollow wand 22 and is ultimately collected in a dust bag located in a tank unit or canister of the vacuum cleaner. Located in the plenum chamber 12 is a valve 38 which, as shown in FIG. 2, is positioned in such a way that the opening 32 communicates with the hollow elbow 16 via the plenum chamber 12 and the suction exhaust port 14. However, the valve 38 prevents the suction inlet port defined by the opening 34 from communicating with the hollow elbow 16 via the plenum chamber 12 and the suction exhaust port 14. In FIG. 2, one face 38a of the valve 38 is presented to and closes the suction inlet opening 34 while an opposite face 38b of the valve is presented to but does not close the suction inlet opening 32. In other words, the suction inlet port or opening 32 is opened while the suction inlet port or opening 34 is closed.

Adjacent the suction inlet port or opening 34 and on opposite sides thereof are two bristle strips 41) and 42 comp-rising a brush. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 the bristle strips and 42 are provided with U-shaped backing strips 44 and 46, respectively. These backing strips are clamped to the bristle strips and serve to support them. Two channels are formed in the plate 28 and each channel is defined by a parallel pair of wall sections 2811 and a base section 28b between the wall sections 28a of each pair. The bristle strips 40 and 42 are secured by their respective backing strips 44 and 45 to the plate 28 by forcing the wall sections 28a of each pair toward the backing strips 44 and 46 thereby clamping the bristle strips within the U-shaped backing strips as well as clamping the backing strips within the channels. As indicated in FIGS. 8 and 9 when a smooth floor surface such as a hardwood floor 37 or the like, is being cleaned, the plate 28 is nearest to the floor surface so that the bristle strips 40 and 42 can brush and dislodge dust, dirt, lint and litter fro-m the floor surface and subsequently enable the dislodged matter to enter the nozzle body 10 through the suction inlet opening 34. On the other hand, as indicated in FIG. 2 when a rug covered surface is being cleaned the plate 26 is in contact with the floor surface so that minimal friction is created between the suction cleaning nozzle and the rug while dirt, dust, lint and litter enters the nozzle body through the suction inlet opening 32.

Formed in the outer surface in the elbow 16 are two teeth 48 and 50. As shown these teeth are spaced apart on the periphery of the elbow 16. Mounted adjacent the elbow is a spur gear 52 which has a plurality of teeth.

The spur gears teeth are intended to engage the teeth 48 and 50 on the elbow 16 in order to control the position of the valve 38. This is described in greater detail hereinafter. Rigidly connected to the spur gear 52 and rotatable therewith is an elongated shaft 54. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 the shaft 54 is journaled for rotation in two axially aligned pillow block assemblies 56 and 58. These pillow block assemblies are integrally formed in the nozzle body 10. On the opposite end of the shaft 54 there is rigidly connected a bevel gear 60. Another bevel gear 62 is rigidly connected to one end of the valve 38 and the teeth on the bevel gears 60 and 62 are arranged for meshing engagement. Rigidly connected to the opposite end of the valve 38 is a stub shaft 64 which, as shown in FIG. 1 and 5, has a square cross-sectional shape. The end of a leaf spring 66 is fastened to the nozzle body by means of a screw 68 and the free end of the cantilevered spring 66 bears against a flat surface on the stub shaft 64. The spring 66 acts on the flat surface of the shaft 64 as a detent to restrain the rotation of the valve 38 at the end of a 90 rotation thereof, and also to retain the gear 52 in a position such that the tooth 48 or 50 in the elbow 16 will enter between the teeth of gear 52 and not jam against the end of a tooth.

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 show, in sequence, the different positions of the nozzle body 10 as it is changed from an initial position (FIG. 6) appropriate for cleaning a rug covered floor to a final position (FIG. 8) appropriate for cleaning a smooth surfaced floor. When the nozzle body 10 is appropriately positioned for cleaning the rug 36 its valve 38 is positioned as shown in FIG. 2 in such a way that the suction inlet opening 32 is open while the suction inlet opening 34 is closed; the bristle strips 40 and 42 being out of contact with the rug 36. When the rug 36 has been cleaned and a smooth hardwood floor, or the like, is to be cleaned the vacuum cleaner operator need only lift the hollow wand 22 upwardly a short distance. As the wand 22 and the nozzle body 10 move upwardly the nozzle body will pivot counterclockwise 90 about the hollow elbow 16 from its initial horizontal position shown in FIG. 6. The aforesaid 90 counterclockwise pivotal movement will occur because of an unbalanced turning moment caused by a weight 70 which, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, is located in the hollow body 10 near one extremity thereof. After the nozzle body 10 has rotated, due to gravity, through the aforesaid 90 the operator lowers the wand 22 until the weighted end of the nozzle body bears against the rug 36. By turning the Wand 22 counterclockwise a few degrees the nozzle body 10 is positioned as shown in FIG. 7. While the body 10 is in the aforesaid position the operator by rotating the wand 22 a few degrees clockwise about its own longitudinal central axis causesthe nozzle body to move to the position shown in FIG. 8. Thus, there is completed a 180 rotation of the body 10 to the position appropriate for cleaning the smooth floor 37. While the nozzle body 10 turns 180 to position the bristle strips 40 and 42 in contact with the floor 37 the valve38 turns through only 90 in order to shift it between the positions shown in FIGS. 2 and 9.

The aforesaid reduction, which is 2: 1, may be achieved in a number of ways. In the illustrative embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 9 the 2: 1 reductionis achieved by providing the gear 52 with 8 teeth, the bevel gear 60 with 28 teeth and the bevel gear 62 with 14 teeth. When the nozzle body 10 has rotated through the aforesaid first 90 due to the action of the weight 70 one tooth on the gear 52 arrives in contact with the tooth 50 on the bottom of the elbow 16. At the beginning of the next 90 rotation of the nozzle body 10, toward the position shown in FIG. 8, the 8 toothed gear 52 acts against the single tooth 50 on the elbow 16 and is rotated through Ms of 360 or 45. The shaft 54 and the bevel gear 60 are likewise rotated through 45. Inasmuch as the bevel gear 60 has 28 teeth and the gear 62 has 14 teeth, a 45 rotation of'gear 60 causes a 90 movement of gear 62. Thus the valve 38 is positioned as shown in FIG. 9 so as to open the suction inlet opening 34 and to close the suction inlet opening 32. After the valve 38 and its stub shaft 64 have been rotated as aforesaid the leaf spring 66 acts on the flat surface of the stub shaft 64 as a detent to retain the valve 38 in the position shown in FIG. 9.

In the discussion hereinbefore set forth the nozzle body 10 was described as being changed from the position shown in FIG. 6 (rug cleaning) to the position shown in FIG. 8 (smooth surfaced floor cleaning). In the event that the nozzle body 10 has to be changed from the position shown in FIG. 8 to that shown in FIG. 6 the vacuum. cleaner operator first lifts the wand 22 upwardly in the same way as hereinbefore described. However, the nozzle body 10 will first rotate 90 clockwise as the wand is raised because the weight 70 is now on the right-hand side of the body 10. (See FIG. 8). Subsequently, the vacuum cleaner operator can place the nozzle body 10 in the position shown in FIG. 6 by manipulating the wand 22 in a manner similar to that hereinbefore described with reference to changing the position of the nozzle body from the position shown in FIG. 6 to that shown in FIG. 8. All of the operators manipulations and the rotation of the body 10 will, however, be opposite to those hereinbefore discussed.

The use of the weight 70 may be dispensed with if desired. In the absence of the aforesaid weight the vacuum cleaner operator may use either his left foot or his right foot to rotate the nozzle body 10 through the first 90. For example, if the nozzle body '10 is initially in the position shown in FIG. 6 and it is to be rotated to the position shown in FIG. 8 the operator may place his left foot on top of the left side of the nozzle body 10 as he lifts wand 22 upwardly. This will cause the nozzle body 10 to rotate to the position shown in FIG. 7. Subsequently, the vacuum cleaner operator can manipulate the wand 22 in the way hereinbefore described to rotate the nozzle body through another 90 thereby completing a 180 rotation of the nozzle body so that it is positioned as shown in FIG. 8. During the second 90 rotation the bevel gears 52, 60 and 62, the shaft 54 and the tooth 50 will function in the manner hereinbefore described to cause the valve 38 to assume the position shown in FIG. 9.

The operator may use his right foot instead of his left foot, if he wishes, to change the nozzle body from the rug cleaning position (FIG. 6) to the floor cleaning position (FIG. 8). By placing his right foot on the top of the right side of the body 10 he can proceed in a way similar to that hereinbefore described to reposition the nozzle body. Of course, the rotation of the body 10 will be in a direction opposite to that hereinbefore described with reference to the use of his left foot. For example, when the operator uses his right foot to effect a change from the position of FIG. 6 to that of FIG. 8, the body 10 will rotate clockwise and one tooth on the gear 52 will come into contact with the one tooth 48 which is located at the top of the elbow 16. At the beginning of the next 90 rotation of the body 10, toward the position shown at FIG. 8, the gear 52 will be rotated 45 and, ultimately, the valve 38 will turn 90 to close the opening 32 and open the opening 34. This time, however, the valve face 38a will be facing the opening 32 while the valve face 38b will be facing the opening 34.

Also, by fol-lowing the procedures herein-before described the operator may use either his left foot or his right foot to change the position of the nozzle body 10 from that shown in FIG. 8 to that shown in FIG. 6.

In FIG. 10, in which there is shown a second embodiment of the multi-purpose suction cleaning nozzle according to the invention, a different gear train assembly is used for obtaining the '2: 1 reduction between the angular movement of the nozzle body 10 and the valve 38. As in the first embodiment (FIGS. 1-9) a spur gear 72 is mounted on the body 10 so that its teeth can engage either of the teeth 48 or 50 which are located on the periphery of the elbow 16. A shaft 74 is connected to the spur gear 72 and is journaled for rotation in two spaced apart pillow blocks 76 and 78. These pillow blocks are integrally formed in the nozzle body 10. To the opposite end of the shaft 74 there is connected a spur gear 80. Another spur gear 82 is mounted in meshing engagement with the spur gear 80. A shaft 84 is connected to the spur gear 82 and this shaft 84 is mounted for rotation in a pillow block 86. The pillow block 86 is also integrally for-med in the nozzle body 10. At the opposite end of the shaft 84 there is connected a bevel gear 88. The bevel gear 88 meshes at a right angle with another bevel gear 90 and the latter is connected to the shaft 64 of the valve 3 8.

The gear 72 is provided with 8 teeth so that when it engages either of the teeth 48 or 50 on the elbow 16 it is rotated through an angle of 45 of 360). The shaft 74 and the spur gear 80 are likewise rotated through 45 The gear 80 is provided with twice as many teeth as the gear 82. Hence the gear 82 and the bevel gear 88 are rotated through 90 as the gear 80 is rotated through 45. The bevel gears 88 and 90 have the same number of teeth and hence shaft 64 and valve 38 rotate through 90.

The multi-purpose uction cleaning nozzle shown in FIG. is manipulated and it operates in the same manner as the nozzle shown in FIGS. 1-9. A weight, like the weight 70, may be used to aid in rotating the nozzle body 10. In the alternative, the weight may be dispensed with and the operator may use either foot in the same way as hereinbefore described with reference to the first embodiment of the invention.

In FIGS. 11 and 12, in which there is shown a third embodiment of the multi-purpose suction cleaning nozzle according to the invention, still another kind of gear train assembly is employed for obtaining a 2:1 reduction between the angular movement of the nozzle body 10 and that of the valve 38. One feature, among others, of this assembly is that a separate detent mechanism, such as the spring 66 and the flat surface stub shaft 64 of the first and second embodiments, is eliminated. The gear train assembly shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 is so constructed and arranged that it inherently acts as a detent to stop the rotation of the valve 38 after it has been rotated through 90. As shown in FIG. 1 1, a spur gear 92 is connected to and encompasses the elbow 16-. Another spur gear 94 is mounted on the body 10 so that its teeth are in meshing engagement with the spur gear 92. A shaft 96 is connected to the spur gear 94 and this shaft is journaled for rotation in two spaced apart pillow blocks 98 and 100 which are integrally formed in the nozzle body 10. A Geneva movement comprising a driven Geneva gear 102 and a driving gear 104 are employed. The driving gear 104 is connected to the opposite end of the shaft 96 and the driven Geneva gear 102 is connected to one end of another shaft 106. The driven gear 102 is provided with 8 arcuate axially extending grooves 108 which are evenly spaced apart on the periphery thereof. Also on one face of the gear 102 there is formed 8 deep evenly spaced radial grooves 110. As shown, each groove 1 10 is located between two adjacent grooves 108. The driving gear 104 is provided with a dog 112 and an arcuate cam surface 114. Connected to the other end of the shaft 106 is a bevel gear 116 and connected to the shaft 64 of the valve 38 is another bevel gear 118. The shaft 106 is journaled for rotation in a pillow block 107 which is integrally formed in the nozzle body 10.

The spur gear 92 is provided with twice as many teeth as the spur gear 94. Assume that the nozzle body 10 is initially in the position shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 and it is intended to rotate the nozzle body 10 through 180. As the vacuum cleaner operator lifts the wand 22 the nozzle body 10 first turns through 90 with respect to the elbow 16 so that the nozzle body 10 is in a vertical position. Because of the 2:1 gear ratio between the gears 92 and 94, the gear 94 will rotate through 180, at which point the arcuate cam surface 14 on the driving gear 104 exits from one of the grooves 108 in order to allow the gear 102 to be turned. As the cam surface 114 exits from the groove 108 the dog 112 enters an adjacent radial groove 110. The dog 112 on the driving gear 104 acts as a gear with but one tooth with respect to the driven gear 102 which because of the 8 radial grooves 110 acts as a gear with 8 teeth. Therefore, in turning the nozzle body 10 through an additional the drive gear 104 will turn through another 180 thereby completing a 360 rotation. The dog 112 on the drive gear 104 and the 8 radial grooves on the driven gear 102 represents a 1:8 gear ratio sothat the driven gear 102 will turn through 45 (/s of 360) while the drive gear 104 turns through 360". The bevel gear 116 also turns through 45 The bevel gear 116 is provided with twice as many teeth as the bevel gear 118. Therefore the gear 118 will turn through 90 while the bevel gear turns through 45 Since the bevel gear 118 is directly connected to the shaft 64 of the valve 38 the valve, likewise, turns through 90. The arcuate cam surface 114 on the drive gear 104 coacts with the grooves 108 to provide a positive detent mechanism to stop the valve 38 after each 90 rotation of the valve.

The multipurpose suction cleaning nozzle shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 is manipulated and it operates in the same manner as the nozzles of the two previously discussed embodiments of the invention. A weight, like the weight 70, may be employed or, in the alternative, the nozzle body may be operated without the weight, in which case the vacuum cleaner operator may use his left foot or his right foot in the same manner hereinbefore described.

While more than one embodiment of the invention has been shown and described it is to be understood that this has been done for purposes of illustration only and that the scope of my invention is not to be limited thereby, but is to be determined from the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A duplex suction nozzle, a nozzle body including first and second dissimilar floor cleaning surfaces situated in back-to-back relation and a third surface extending from the first cleaning surface to the second cleaning surface, said nozzle body having a plenum chamber therewithin and first and second inlet openings in the first and second floor cleaning surfaces, respectively, for admitting dirt to the plenum chamber, said nozzle body having an exhaust opening in the third surface for discharging dirt from the plenum chamber, a conduit having an end thereof coupled to the nozzle body at the exhaust opening thereof, said nozzle body being rotatable about the end of the conduit to selectively position either of the floor cleaning surfaces in facing relation to the floor, said conduit having at least one tooth projecting from the periphery thereof, a valve disposed in the plenum chamber, and gear means coupled to the valve and engageable by said tooth after the nozzle body has been rotated approximately 90 about the conduit to shift the valve dudring a further 90 rotation of the nozzle body about the conduit whereby the valve opens the inlet opening in the floor cleaning surface facing the fioor while, simultaneously, closing the inlet opening in the floor cleaning surface which does not face the floor.

2. A suction nozzle as defined in claim 1 wherein said valve is rotatably mounted.

3. A suction nozzle as defined in claim 2 wherein said gear means rotates the valve 90 during 180 rotation of the nozzle body about the conduit.

4. A suction nozzle as defined in claim 2 including means tending to retain said valve in the position at which it opens the inlet opening facing the floor.

5. A suction nozzle as defined in claim 4 in which 9 10 the retaining means comprises a flat sided shaft and said gear means includes a gear which is rotated apresilient means bearing thereagainst. proximately 45 by engagement with said tooth on said 6. A suction nozzle as defined in claim 4 in which conduit, and further includes gearing whereby said 45 the retaining means includes a Geneva gear. rotation causes approximately 90 rotation of said valve.

7. A suction nozzle as defined in claim 2 wherein a 5 complete spur gear is carried by said conduit and meshes References Cited with a complete gear forming part of said gear means UNITED STATES PATENTS which is coupled to said valve, said gear means also including a Geneva gear operable to rotate said valve gil 5 when said nozzle body has been rotated approximately 10 3048877 8/1962 D scar 90 around said conduit and to otherwise retain said escames Valve agams mtamn- ROBERT w. MICHELL, Primary Examiner.

8. A suction nozzle as defined in claim 2 wherein 

1. A DUPLEX SUCTION NOZZLE, A NOZZLE BODY INCLUDING FIRST AND SECOND DISSIMILAR FLOOR CLEANING SURFACES SITUATED IN BACK-TO-BACK RELATION AND A THIRD SURFACE EXTENDING FROM THE FIRST CLEANING SURFACE TO THE SECOND CLEANING SURFACE, SAID NOZZLE BODY HAVING A PLENUM CHAMBER THEREWITHIN AND FIRST AND SECOND INLET OPENINGS IN THE FIRST AND SECOND FLOOR CLEANING SURFACES, RESPECTIVELY, FOR ADMITTING DIRT TO THE PLENUM CHAMBER, SAID NOZZLE BODY HAVING AN EXHAUST OPENING IN THE THIRD SURFACE FOR DISCHARGING DIRT FROM THE PLENUM CHAMBER, A CONDUIT HAVING AN END THEREOF COUPLED TO THE NOZZLE BODY AT THE EXHAUST OPENING THEREOF, SAID NOZZLE BODY BEING ROTATABLE ABOUT THE END OF THE CONDUIT TO SELECTIVELY POSITION EITHER OF THE FLOOR CLEANING SURFACES IN FACING RELATION TO THE FLOOR, SAID CONDUIT HAVING AT LEAST ONE TOOTH PROJECTING FROM THE PERIPHERY THEREOF, A VALVE DISPOSED IN THE PLENUM CHAMBER, AND GEAR MEANS COUPLED TO THE VALVE AND ENGAGEABLE BY SAID TOOTH AFTER THE NOZZLE BODY HAS BEEN ROTATED APPROXIMATELY 90* ABOUT THE CONDUIT TO SHIFT THE VALVE DUDRING A FURTHER 90* ROTATION OF THE NOZZLE BODY ABOUT THE CONDUIT WHEREBY THE VALVE OPENS THE INLET OPENING IN THE FLOOR CLEANING SURFACE FACING THE FLOOR WHILE, SIMULTANEOUSLY, CLOSING THE INLET OPENING IN THE FLOOR CLEANING SURFACE WHICH DOES NOT FACE THE FLOOR. 